The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1426: Love and Hate

Late at night, the ward finally became quiet as everyone retreated to their respective rooms, giving Lucas the peace and time he needed to rest as he had just woken up from a long coma. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Lory, whowas feeling much better, couldn’t bring herself to stay in the ward any longer. She insisted on returning to her own cozy bedroom, longing for the familiar comfort of her space. More importantly, Zhao Li Xin had come back, and her heart yearned to spend more time with him, away from the noise and worry of the day.

After a long, soothing bath, Lory slipped into her soft pajamas and wrapped herself in a cozy knitted robe. As she roughly dried her damp hair with a towel, she wandered through the vast expanse of her bedroom, her eyes searching for Zhao Li Xin, but she didn’t find him.

The only downside of such a grand, spacious room was how easy it was to lose sight of someone. Her steps slowed as her gaze finally landed on him, sitting on the balcony couch, his tall, elegant figure bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.

The silver light caressed his sharp features, making him look almost ethereal, like a painting come to life. A tender warmth bloomed in her chest as she took in the quiet strength and grace he carried, and for a moment, she simply stood there, captivated by the man who had become her home.

Zhao Li Xin had already sensed Lory’s approach. His sharp senses easily caught the faint, familiar scent of her lingering in the air, but he remained silent, knowing she would come to him on her own, as she always did.

He raised a glass of his old favorite wine to his lips, savoring the rich, nostalgic taste. Earlier, he had unearthed a hidden wine collection from his spatial ring—a forgotten treasure tucked away within his manor and only rediscovered after the Mystique Realm expanded.

Who would have thought he’d stumble upon such remnants of his past? A faint smile curved his lips as he let the memories swirl with the rich taste of the wine. It seemed the Fire Spirit hadn’t lied when he said that everything which once belonged to Zhao Li Xin would remain untouched.

Only the things tied to Huo Long—the volcanic landscapes, the golden pagoda, and the mountains of gold he had once owned—had vanished. Thankfully, there are still a few gold bars and priceless trinkets he had kept in his spatial ring that had survived, small pieces of a life that felt like it belonged to another lifetime.

Quietly, he sipped the wine from a delicate porcelain cup. To be honest, he couldn’t even remember when he had stored away this antique set. Perhaps it was during one of Wu San Bo’s endless complaints about running out of space for treasures, or maybe he had kept them after noticing Lory’s fondness for drinking sweet tea from pretty cups.

Either way, it didn’t matter. Over the years, he had developed the habit of tossing everything into his spatial rings without a second thought.

The wind bit sharply and cold as the city stretched at a distance, shimmering of neon light and gold glows pulsed through the streets, and laser light pierced through the sky.

The nightlife in the capital city of Herriond was so lively and vibrant, even the stars are no match for the bright light below as they all seem hidden behind the night sky, only a pale full moon hangs lonely in the dark sky hidden behind the thin cloud.

"Oh... that cup brings back memories," Lory said softly as she sank onto the couch beside him. Her eyes lingered on the wine cup in his hand, recalling the many times she had seen it at Ning Jing Manor.

"You remember?" Zhao Li Xin’s lips curved into a faint smile as he set the cup down.

"How could I forget?" she replied, her voice warm with nostalgia.

His eyes flicked to her damp hair, and a small frown tugged at his brow. "You’ll catch a chill if you leave your hair wet like that. Come here—I’ll help you."

With a cheerful smile, Lory handed him her towel and turned her back to him. Zhao Li Xin carefully took the towel and began to dab her hair, his movements gentle and patient. Then, using a bit of heat from his own energy, he coaxed away the lingering moisture.

"You know, there’s this thing called a hair dryer in your world. Why not use it?" he murmured. "It dries hair fast. I saw it in an advertisement for it."

Lory giggled softly. "I know. But I like this better... Besides, overusing a dryer ruins your hair." She spoke with playful coyness, a side of her she showed only to Zhao Li Xin.

A rare, tender smile softened his usually stoic face. He loved doing these small, thoughtful things for Lory, a simple action that allowed him to savor their precious, peaceful moments together.

Unlike so many other couples who took their time for granted, believing they had all the years in the world, Lory and Zhao Li Xin were different.

They both understood, far too well, how fragile happiness could be—how easily it could slip through their fingers without warning. And so, they held each moment close to their hearts, cherishing it as if it were their last.

"Xin..." Lory’s voice was mellow, almost a whisper.

"Hm?" he replied softly, still drying her hair.

"Thank you... For telling my brother everything that happened in your world, you know, it’s hard for me to tell everything to them, it felt weird. But you know, I was scared Lucas might hold resentment for what I did in the past. That’s why you told them about my struggle and hardship..." Her eyes crinkled into a grateful smile.

His hands never faltered as he replied in his calm, steady tone, "I only told them the truth. And your brother doesn’t seem to blame you in any way, not even a little. I can see it in his eyes how much he loves you, and he misses you...very much. Besides, if you were in his place... would you hold any resentment towards him?"

Lory fell quiet for a moment before answering softly, "No... I wouldn’t."

Zhao Li Xin gave a faint nod, his expression unreadable yet gentle. "I think you already know the answer in your heart. When someone has stared death in the face as often as we have... You learn to let go of everything you deemed unnecessary - unimportant. Because in the end, we knew when death approaches, the only thing that truly matters is what we hold dear... like love."

He finished drying Lory’s hair, folding the towel neatly before setting it aside. Lory curled her legs up on the couch and nestled deeper into his embrace. His arms tightened around her as she let out a heavy sigh.

"I know... that’s why I don’t understand Lazarus’s actions," she murmured softly. "His obsession with destroying the world, all because of an old grudge with Arthea... What’s the point? Why hurt someone he claims to love so deeply? In the end, isn’t he the one who will suffer the most?"

"Maybe, for him, that’s better than nothing," Zhao Li Xin said softly.

She tilted her head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he hugged her tighter, resting his chin on top of her head. The warmth between them was comforting, grounding.

"It’s not so hard to understand," he said quietly. "He wanted to prove her wrong... to make her regret leaving him. Even if she hated him, at least it meant she still remembered him. Have you never heard a saying, they say the line between love and hate is thinner than paper."

Lory’s lips pressed into a tight line, unease creeping into her heart. "How can you understand him?"

He chuckled, the sound low and nonchalant. "Well... it takes crazy to know crazy."

Lory lightly slapped his arm in protest. "You’re nothing like Lazarus, okay? You’ve never hurt me. You respect my choices and go along with all my whims, you even get into a lot of trouble because of me....." She suddenly felt like a willful girlfriend, a wave of self-reflection washing over her.

Zhao Li Xin burst out laughing, the sound warm and unrestrained. "That’s because the woman I love is you. From the moment we met, you’ve been honest and sincere. You’re kind to everyone, but you’ve always kept clear boundaries with men, which spared me a lot of worry. You’ve also never been afraid to show your feelings for me, and that gave me confidence. Over and over, you’ve proven to me that you’ll never leave me, and if you ever leave me, it’s because of death."

He paused, his voice softening. "That’s why, Lory... Loving you gives me a lot of strength, just like a pillar in my heart that keeps me steady."

"So... in short, I never make you jealous, uneasy, or anxious. I never make you feel like your position is threatened." Lory pouted slightly. "Doesn’t that make me a boring girlfriend?"

"I get jealous sometimes," he admitted with a grin, "but only for a moment. And yes, what I need is a ’boring’ girlfriend. Can you imagine what I’d do if I ever felt truly threatened?"

Lory’s mouth twitched. With Zhao Li Xin’s power and authority as the Hei Shen Sect leader, the scale of chaos he could unleash was immeasurable. If a man like him ever lost control of his emotions, the result would be nothing short of catastrophic.

"Yeah... being boring is good," she said at last, resting her head against his chest.

_____________________________________________

In the morning, Leon and Sylvia Fort came to visit Lucas. The moment they stepped into the room, they were greeted by an amusing sight—Lory was firmly pressing a piece of raw broccoli against Lucas’s lips with her fork.

"Eat It!" she ordered sternly.

Lucas had no choice but to obey. He reluctantly took a bite, his face contorting into a sour expression. Lory’s sharp gaze didn’t waver for a second, clearly making sure he didn’t spit it out—something he was notorious for doing as a child. He had always been such a picky eater.

Seeing this, Leon and Sylvia felt an unexpected warmth swell in their chests. Tears pricked at the corners of their eyes. They had once believed they might never witness such a simple, tender moment again. Thank God, they thought. The princess and the prince had truly returned.

Lucas and Lory turned their attention toward the door, finally noticing their visitors.

"Miss Fort," Lory greeted with a solemn nod.

"Your Highness," Sylvia replied. Her composed expression faltered slightly, betraying a flicker of emotion before she quickly collected herself. Placing a hand over her chest, she bowed deeply. "Your Highness... Your Majesty. I’m so relieved to see you well again, my king."

Despite wearing nothing more than a hospital gown, Lucas’s calm and dignified bearing never wavered. "I was fortunate," he said. "Blessed with capable friends and subordinates. Ah—General Leon, I heard you aided my brother-in-law, which in turn helped save my life."

Leon bowed his head respectfully. "I only did what was expected of me, Your Majesty."

"Thank you for helping my husband, Leon," Lory added with gentle sincerity.

"It was my honor, Your Highness," Leon replied courteously.

"Your Majesty," Sylvia interjected, her tone shifting back to business -like expression, "We bring important news that requires your immediate attention."

"Then please, have a seat," Lucas said, gesturing toward the room. He pressed the call button, and moments later, the King’s guards entered carrying chairs for the guests.

Lory’s expression also grew serious, her playful demeanor from earlier replaced with a calm composure. She folded her arms across her chest, leaning slightly against the bed.

Lucas remained seated upright on the hospital bed, exuding quiet authority despite his weakened state. Together, they faced Leon and Sylvia with steady, expectant gazes.

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